Page 158 of Play Dirty

Ares barked out a laugh. It wasn’t a good laugh.

“If Sutherland was throwing games,” Sebastian finally spoke, “someone was paying him.”

The fact was solid. Undeniable.

It also raised a thousand new questions.

“Which means,” he went on quietly, “someone wanted us losing.”

And there it was. The real problem.

Not Sutherland. Not Grayson.

Something bigger.

Something worse.

“Management.”

A slow realization crept in, settling over the room like the storm had earlier. Ares let out a short breath; something between a laugh and a curse.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Someone in management wanted us losing,” Sebastian said slowly. “Or at least, not winning.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Dunno.”

“Why?” Ares demanded.

Grayson finally looked up.

“Contracts. Draft position. Internal leverage. Could be anything.”

“That’s not hockey,” Ares snapped.

“No,” I said quietly. “It’s not. Which is why there’s something we very much need to do.”

“Bash skulls?” Ares said, balling a fist and driving it into his palm.

I shook my head slowly.

“Not yet.”

A beat.

“First… we take back everything they tried to steal from us.”

Silence settled in. Sharp and final.

I let my gaze move between them — Ares, still simmering, Sebastian, already thinking three steps ahead. Grayson… steady, but carrying it all.

“Then—” I added, a small but dangerous smile pulling at my lips.

“We win.”

~ 46 ~